Navistar to end production of medium-duty 9/10 liter engine

11 August 2017

Navistar announced that it will cease all engine production at its plant in Melrose Park, IL, by the second quarter of fiscal 2018. The company said it will continue the facility’s transformation into Navistar’s technical center, including truck and engine testing and validation, as well as used truck sales and reconditioning.

The majority of engines produced at Melrose Park are medium-duty 9/10 liter engines used in International® Class 6 and 7 vehicles, for which Navistar currently offers alternative engine options. In 2013, Navistar reintroduced the option of a 6.7 liter Cummins engine for its Class 6/7 medium-duty vehicles, followed in 2016 by a 9 liter Cummins engine option.

“Ceasing production of engines at Melrose Park is a difficult decision, but represents another important step on our journey to strengthening the company’s competitiveness,” said Persio Lisboa, Navistar chief operating officer. “Our N9/10 engine family was updated in 2014 and since then has served as a competitive niche offering for specific medium-duty vehicles. As we approach future regulatory requirements, the low volume nature of the platform could not justify further product development investments on it.”

The 9 and 10 L Navistar engines are updated versions of the 466 in3 DT engine, which has it’s roots in offroad applications by International Harvester starting in the 1970s.

Once completed, the cessation of engine manufacturing at Melrose Park is expected to affect about 170 employees and reduce Navistar’s operating costs by approximately $12 million annually.

The transformation of the Melrose Park facility began in 2010, when the company added a state-of-the-art truck testing and validation center at the 80-acre campus, complementing the existing engine test center there.